Costa Rica Things to Do

Costa Rica is one of the most popular Central American destinations for newlyweds. It’s not hard to see why. With its world-famous beaches and rainforests, it’s the perfect spot for couples looking to relax or explore. In fact, Costa Rica has been ranked in the world’s top ten honeymoon destinations by Brides Magazine, the Signature Travel Network, Ask Men and Elle.

Costa Rica’s greatest treasure is its natural diversity. More than a quarter of the country’s total land area consists of national parks, biological reserves and wildlife refuges, area that are home to some of the most colorful and exotic lifeforms on the planet. Costa Rica is also one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world, with some 10,000 species of plants and trees alone. Warm and green year-round, Costa Rica is the perfect getaway for nature lovers.

When someone mentions Costa Rica, most people think of the awesome beaches. This is with good reason: Costa Rica is a beach lover’s dream. With warm waters year-round, an unparalleled tourism infrastructure and tons of attractions spanning two coasts, Costa Rica’s beaches rank among the best in the world.

Arguably the most beautiful national park in Costa Rica (Forbes magazine ranked it as one of the 10 loveliest in the world) is Manuel Antonio. It is a slender peninsula that reaches out into the Pacific toward a string of beckoning islands. It has a rocky spine that is lushly carpeted in rainforest, rising to a massive cliff formation called “Cathedral Point.” A handful of perfect, pristine beaches lie on either side, waiting for wandering travelers to take a break from watching wildlife and relax by the sea instead.

Though the national park itself is small—just 683 hectares (2.6 square miles)—the surrounding jungles have been carefully conserved, and today are home to so many monkeys, sloths and tropical birds that you will likely see the menagerie promised in your Costa Rica travel brochures before even leaving your hotel.

Forbes magazine, the respected business biweekly, recently selected Costa Rica‘s Manuel Antonio National Park as one of the world’s most beautiful protected areas. With 7000 of the planet’s prettiest spots to choose from, it must have been tough to whittle the list down to only a dozen.